In 2013, Dr. Robert Fitzhenry, a McMaster alumni, donated generously to the School of the Arts (SoTA) for a new addition and renovation to the existing studios and classrooms at Togo Salmon Hall. The gift was made in honour of Robert’s late wife Andrèe, a painter and art collector. Upon award of the project, DPAI led a full day design charrette involving current students, faculty and staff at SoTA, as well as many other stakeholders. In the early stages of design, DPAI worked closely with a group of community alumni practitioners to contextualize the project as a link between the school and greater Hamilton arts community. The result was a design deeply informed by end-user input that focused on functionally reconfigured and expanded studios, a new light-filled exhibition space, clear and accessible circulation, and the creation of a strong street presence and identity for SoTA, a faculty that had been difficult to access and navigate.